4I know not much happens in this chapter, but it is fairly important for the rest of the story. Lots of people said the last one was too short, so I have tried to make it longer. I'm working on the grammar. Thanks for the reviews everyone. They were really useful.
Ch2-Hereid
"Hereid! Heireid! Come down! Please, there are some deer on the hill, you have a bigger bow, will you get one for me?" A small dark haired boy came running up to him, a childish, pleading look on his face as he tugged his brothers' clothes. Hereid laughed as he stood up and slipped a freshly painted shell into his belt pouch. He reached behind his back to get an arrow. Arlyn's endless energy always amazed him. He followed his brother, flashing a quick smile to his sister who was engrossed in her pet kitten. He knew they could leave her there for hours and she would be quite happy, so he allowed his brother to drag him along.
They climbed part of the way up the hill carefully, staying downwind, Hereid keeping a careful eye on their prey. They crouched close to the ground, hidden by bushes as he selected an animal to aim at. He could feel his brother holding his breath beside him, almost bursting with excitement as he fitted an arrow onto the bow. Arlyn's eyes followed the arrow, and watched with fascination as they always did at the graceful, strained shape the wood arched into. The arrow quivered as Hereid held it in place, waiting for the victim to arrive at a convenient position to be shot at. Arlyn let out a small squeak as the arrow was released and rocketed sharply through the air. Hereid turned and shushed him, annoyed-"that could have thrown my aim, idiot!" Arlyn wasn't listening though. "You got him, you got him!" Indeed, a young fawn had been pierced and killed cleanly and quickly through the heart by the shaft, whilst his herd fled swiftly in panic, leaving him behind. The two boys ran over to him.
He was a fine animal, very large; he would almost be ready to leave his mother. His coat was becoming plainer and stumps of antler poked through his skull behind his still twitching ears. Hereid pulled a length of twine made by his mother from plant and animal sinews and swiftly and expertly tied the fawns' legs together. He then tugged his arrow out of the powerful chest and wiped it distastefully on the grass. The baby was bigger by half than Arlyn and almost as large as Hereid. He slung the legs round his shoulders and stooped forwards under the weight of the carcass. Arlyn reached up on tip toes and stroked the coarse, short, spotted fur of the body and looked into its dead staring eyes lolling from the drooping head. Arlyn loved the excitement of the shooting, but had always seemed to have difficulty dealing with the necessary aftermath once it was in front of him, at least for a while. It was a kind of ritual he went through after each death. Acknowledging he had taken its' life. After this he seemed to always return to normal. This moment intrigued Hereid. It showed an aspect of Arlyn's character rarely seen.
They began their descent down, with Hereid listening amusedly to Arlyn's clumsy stories of how he had almost killed a deer before Hereid had arrived, and how he would soon be receiving his full size bow. He replayed the kill over and over and Hereid chuckled at the enthusiasm of his brother. Suddenly, the elder stopped a minute. "Arlyn, since you have your deer, why don't we find something for Yesult?" Arlyn immediately ran off in search of something to solve this new test while Hereid gratefully sat down, dropping the deer beside him and lay back in the long grass. "I'll be back here" he called after his tiny sibling's retreating back. He closed his eyes as he thanked the Gods that his brother liked a challenge.
The hours passed and eventually Hereid fell asleep in the dozy sunlight. Arlyn was coming back, having finally found the perfect gift for his sister. Only he needed Hereids' large knife to get it. His lips formed his trademark mischievous grin as he spotted his brother sleeping. He belly crawled silently up to him until he was about three feet away. Then he took a running jump, landing right on Hereids' stomach. He woke with a grunt and a shout of surprise, sitting up so suddenly Arlyn was thrown off. He leapt up, knife drawn, looking for the attacker. Arlyn slowly stood up from where he had been thrown off, looking slightly sheepish, but no less amused by the impressive reaction he had gotten. Hereid growled playfully and began to chase him, sweeping him up and tickling him, swinging him round violently 'till he begged for mercy, as they both laughed crazily. Eventually Arlyn managed to explain what he had come back for and began to lead him deep into the woods nearby, deeper than Hereid had ever been before, where he had found the best present for Yesult.
It was a rose, deep blood red in colour that had grown up a huge tree, hauling itself up it, and now small buds bloomed from every crevice and the leaves were entwined with curling tendrils and drops of scarlet which waved softly at the slightest breeze. It was a beautiful sight, and Hereid paused, allowing his artists' eye to take in the magnificence of it. The sun rays had turned some of the leaves golden, making it look truly regal. All around the same type of rose had taken over smaller trees, but they had consumed them, so now all that was left was a mass of roses, totally concealing their tiny strangled hosts behind. But this rose had chosen a giant, and it was not about to take over any time soon. Instead the rose had been able to grow so huge without consuming the tree that they worked together, complimenting and appearing to support each other. They were so entwined that they ceased to be two organisms, instead they merged together, creating one, fantastic image for those lucky enough to find it. No birds or animals could be heard or seen in the stillness. It was as though none wanted to distract attention from this hidden wonder. About halfway up the massive trunk was one particularly huge blossom. It was on a thick, tough stem and huge thorns protected it. The petals were of rich velvet and the colour especially intense and vibrant, with undulating shades of red dancing over its' surface with shifting lights and shadows. Hereid scanned the tree critically, looking for a way of climbing up. He walked over and found his first foothold. He shook off his soft leather boots that would be no use and used his toes to find cracks in the bark as he scrambled his way up, wincing when he was poked by the sharp thorns. Arlyn watched him intently, studying his climb. Finally he reached the bloom and, hooking one arm round a branch above him, pulled his knife out of his belt. It was expertly forged, with intricate patterns carved the whole length of the blade. It was sparkling clean and gleamed and winked in the spots of light, the edge was razor sharp and vicious looking. It was large with a bone handle from the leg of the first deer he had killed and had his name inscribed into it, along with a running stag, leaping along the grip. He kept it in a sheath of hardened leather that was printed with all sorts of patterns, images, symbols and names. Down one side, woven into the design was his name again, and on the other were the names of his siblings, Arlyn and Yesult.
People often marvelled at the close relationship they had. Arlyn got his nickname, meaning oath, when at age three he had solemnly come up to his mother and in a serious voice had promised to protect his new born sister. Hereid cleanly cut the stalk of the flower and slipped it carefully in his belt. Slithering neatly back to ground level, he handed it to Arlyn, warning him to be careful of the prickles. Arlyn took it gingerly, holding out in front of him, a look of pride on his small face. Hereid watched his hands closely, making sure he didn't hurt himself. He felt as though it was his duty to look after his brother and sister, despite the fact he was only a child himself.
Their father was long gone and their mother was not able to watch them during the day while she was working. So they were free to roam the fields surrounding their city, and to wander through the streets. Only Hereid could read and write and do sums. He had been taught intensely by his grandmother, who had struggled hard to pick it up and was determined the arts would not die out. His grandfather had taught him hunting, cooking, how to survive and how to use and appreciate the world around him. He was gradually trying to teach the same to his brother, since his grandfather had died a few years back. Yesult was already deeply integrated with the natural world. Animals flocked to her and she spent hours every day watching them and how they lived. From this she, at a very young age, had already built up a vast knowledge of medicines, how to use plants, where certain animals would be at certain times of day, and how to find and tell if water was safe to drink and more. Hunters had started coming or her to ask where their game was likely to be.
Hereid was also one of the few people in their civilisation who knew weaponry and fighting, again taught by his grandfather, anxious that it should not be forgotten. "These people think they are safe behind their walls, but you never know what's around the corner. We need to have young men who can fight. You'll be needed someday; no one can live forever in peace. Always remember your forefathers. We must start to live up to our history again, never forget it." So he had learned, and had soon shown a particular mastery of the sword and the bow. He had never liked riding or using spears.
The hot late afternoon had shifted to a cool dusk by now, and the sun and moon were greeting each other over the sky. They strolled out of the wood, Arlyn holding his rose as though it was made of glass, carefully making sure it avoided contact with anything lest it should become flawed in some way. Yesult scrambled up from where she was still lying in the field to meet them, her smock grass stained and her kitten leaping along beside her. Arlyn proudly handed her the rose and she showed it to the cat, and immediately identified it. She smiled and admitted she'd been trying to find one of these for ages, and that they were one of her favourite types of roses. She tucked it in her pocket so the head bounced along as she walked. Hereid, who had laid down the deer he was still carrying hauled it up onto his shoulders and led them home, while listening to Arlyn and Yesult swap amazing adventure stories about their respective days.
The jewel encrusted walls of their city shone out to them as they reached the farms outside the city gates. Their city was famous. Their ancestors, it was said, were so proud of the city they had built that when they rebuilt their walls they had all pressed some trinket or other into the battlements. Now soft, worn gems still sparkled along the battlements. The wall was pushed down around the base of a hill, like a stone crown. At the top of the hill one could see the feasting hall, where all the celebrations were held. The gold leaf covered doors of the building stood directly in line with the main entrance to the city. These doors were built strong and well fortified to stand against the enemies of old wanting to steal the city's riches. They were of gigantic proportions, unbelievably heavy and tough. Ancient signs and curse inscriptions in long dead tongues covered the front, warning off attackers. The walls dominated the landscape. It was said that they were impossible to breach.
Hereid called up to the battlements once they had arrived. "Hey! Open the gates!" An old man grinned toothlessly as he leaned over and waved genially at them. They had known him for years. He was a bit like a substitute grandfather to them. And no one could remember a time when he hadn't operated the city gates. A long lever system installed recently made it easy to open both gates at once. They smoothly opened, and all three looked back up in surprise. "I been hard at work today, you know. Oiled all thirty hinges! Look like you been hard at work an' all. That deer'll be good to warm youse up tonight. Might have to come round yours and get me some of that!" The old man looked proudly amused at their bemused looks as they entered. The gates slammed quickly and silently shut behind them.